By: Kaylynn Malcolm, Chapter Reporter
Sebastopol FFA CDE teams have been busy nonstop since January. Almost every weekend we have had a team competing in a contest of some sort. At the end of January we had nine students compete at the Sonoma County Livestock Judging Contest. This contest took place at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds and our team did not disappoint. Every student that competed placed in the top 20. Our blue team that consisted of Bradie McCallum, Rebecca Ficco, Caden Neises, and Iyla Kjaer received third highest FFA team. Our gold team which consisted of Analise Scholten, Hannah Campanile, Shellie Hnace, and Jesus Martinez Diaz received champion FFA Team. Our livestock judging team also participated at the Chico State Field Day. Congratulations to our team for winning: 7th High Team Overall, 5th High Team in Reasons, 6th High Team in Beef, 6th High Team in Swine, 7th High Team in Goats, and 8th High Team in Beef! Big shout-out to Analise Scholten for winning 10th High Individual Overall and 9th in sheep & to Shellie Hance for winning 15th in Reasons and 16th Overall. What a great way to kick off the CDE season! In January, our vine pruning team started competing. They competed at the Sonoma County Saralee McClelland Kunde Memorial Youth Pruning Contest, where they won Champion FFA Team and had many outstanding individual awards. The following weekend, the team attended the 2023 California FFA Mid-Winter State Finals where they won Champion team in Cordon Wine, Champion Team in Cordon Table, and 3rd High Team Overall. Team member results: Alonso Vera – sixth place Cordon Wine, Alex Justus – fifth place Cordon Wine, and Gabe DeLoza – fourth place Cordon Wine. Jesus Martinez received first place Cordon Table, fourth place Cane Raisin, fourth place Cordon Wine, and third place high overall. Considering that this is Jesus’ first year on the team, he is killing it, to say the least.
Not only have our teams been busy competing but we have had members serving our community all over the place. In January, the Sebastopol Ag Boosters held their annual dinner dance fundraiser. There were 15 students that volunteered at this event. This event was very successful, and we want to thank everyone that came and donated to our chapter. The past two weekends in February have been filled with lots, and lots of crab. We had 11 students attend the Farm Bureau Crab Feed on February 4th, and then a handful of students help at the Dunham School Crab Feed. Along with serving at events, our chapter has had multiple community service projects that have taken place. We had our annual blanket making project and a sock drive. Our members made fleece tie blankets and brought in packages of new socks. After both events, our chapter donated all items to the Living Room Shelter. The people at the shelter greatly appreciated the donation and looked forward to working more with us in the future. Last but certainly not least, we had six regional proficiency winners and two star awards. Tucker Pacatte – Agricultural Services, Tristan Wilkes – Forage Production, Alonso Vera – Forest Management and Products, Jesus Martinez Diaz – Fruit Production, Shellie Hance – Nursery Operations, Analise Scholten – Sheep Production, Kaylynn Malcolm – Star Reporter, and Colton Shaw – Star Agribusiness. Congratulations to all of our proficiency winners, we wish them the best at their interviews. Thank you Sebastopol FFA members for working so hard. From proficiencies, community service projects, and lots and lots of contests we have stayed busy and can’t wait to see what we accomplish in the near future. Coming up in March is the Sacramento Leadership Experience, UC Davis Field Day, Regional Speaking Contest, Ag Days, State Conference, and the Modesto Junior College Field Day. Keep up the hard work and dedication Sebastopol FFA!
